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Star Wars: the Force Unleashed Demo Sets Xbox Download Record

Posted by Soulskill on from the they've-been-waiting-for-you dept.

The demo version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released a few weeks ago for download through Xbox Live and the Playstation Network. Now, LucasArts has announced that the game shattered records for the number of downloads on Xbox Live, taking only eight days to reach 1 million. The full version is due out next Tuesday, and LucasArts will be holding a launch party in San Fransisco on Monday night to celebrate. The game is part of a multimedia project which includes a best-selling book, a comic, action figures, and other tie-ins. According to Eurogamer's interview with producer Cameron Suey, previous Star Wars games suffered from a "lack of ambition." Suey also shows off some of the gameplay in a video. A video walkthrough of the PS2 and PSP versions is available at Kotaku. The game will not be available for PC. Early reviews for the game are good, but not great, and developers recently mentioned that George Lucas himself provided input on the project.

175 comments

  1. Back to back Star Wars stories? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The force is strong in this one.

    1. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by MsGeek · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So glad they are going to put out a Wii version. Sure the graphics and the physics won't be as impressive on Wii but the gameplay is going to r0x0r your b0x0rz.

      This also means I can get my lighsabre combat fix without dealing with the crapulous CGI style of the Clone Wars movie/TV series. Besides, being Sithy for a change might be spiffy.

      --
      Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
    2. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by antek9 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Maybe LucasArts are mistaking the raw download numbers for secured sales while it's obvious that anything labeled 'SW' will generate some hype. As for me, I downloaded the PS3 demo last week, found it incredibly dull, deleted it. Disclaimer: I've always been more of a Star Trek fan, anyway.

      --
      A World in a Grain of Sand / Heaven in a Wild Flower,
      Infinity in the Palm of your Hand / And Eternity in an Hour.
    3. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 0, Redundant

      Problem is the Wii version is just a PS2 port.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    4. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by Tiber · · Score: 2, Funny

      I KNOW. I spent so much time playing the PS2 version and swinging the controller around. It make the lightsaber levels so much more interactive with the wire connected to the console and I don't know how the Wii can possibly match it.

    5. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 1

      I'm serious. The Wii version is a ported PS2 version with some wii-mote controls bolted on.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    6. Re:Back to back Star Wars stories? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      more like ass-to-ass, amirite?

  2. Moderate gameplay by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Some are being left disappointed with gameplay. I'm picking up the game for the story, and if that is good, I won't mind the gameplay so much. People forget that KOTOR's gameplay was pretty bad.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    1. Re:Moderate gameplay by MooseMuffin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Maybe it was bad if you expected an action game, but as a turn-based d20 system presented in realtime, I found it excellent. My only complaint with kotor is they managed to squeeze framerate problems (xbox version) into a game that certainly didn't seem to be pushing any graphical limits.

      That said, the story overshadowed all.

    2. Re:Moderate gameplay by zifn4b · · Score: 1

      People forget that KOTOR's gameplay was pretty bad.

      If you're talking about the combat system, you might be able to say it was bad out of the box but you could configure it in such a way (at least on the PC version) so that the combat didn't feel so turn-based and was more fluid. I personally think KOTOR and KOTOR 2 are great games. My only complaint is that KOTOR 2 was cut short due to budget and time constraints. Both games looked great and had awesome storylines with very memorable characters. The game mechanics, especially with regard to the dialog trees and how you could gain respect with characters depending on how you talked to them to open up side quests and stuff was thoroughly enjoyable. There were also a lot of different ways to play and customize your character and equipment.

      As for Force Unleashed, the gameplay looks decent to me so if it's halfway decent gameplay with the same kinds of memorable characters, deep storyline and isn't too linear, I'll be very pleased with it.

      --
      We'll make great pets
    3. Re:Moderate gameplay by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      KOTOR's gameplay was pretty bad? Speak for yourself.

      If you went in expecting an action game, I suppose you might be disappointed, but I loved it. And apparently, quite a few others did. Not all of us are enthralled with twitch games.

      Bonus for me: After a full day at work of programming (ironically, I'm working on a fairly fast-action game these last few years), I prefer not to strain my already sore wrists with too much fast action. As such, turn-based games are ideal for me anyhow.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    4. Re:Moderate gameplay by grahamd0 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Hell yeah.

      Forcing Bastila to accept that you are, in fact, the rightful Dark Lord of the Sith is probably the most satisfying moment in gaming history.

    5. Re:Moderate gameplay by lewp · · Score: 5, Interesting

      KotOR's gameplay was bad because:

      a) It was massively imbalanced. Pick up the right combination of feats (Master Flurry, Master Speed, Master Two Weapon Fighting) and you could drop even Malak in one round. Pick up the wrong set of feats (a caster build without Force Breach, for example) and you could breeze through the entire game and then get completely fucked on the boss fights at the end.

      b) Half of the mechanics in the game were useless. There was no reason to be a techie or a stealth class because while both had gimmicky moments where they could do something cool, the game was chock full of full-on frontal assaults you couldn't avoid. The gimmicks never paid off as well as going head on anyway. Besides, you could never be as good at those things as the droid, because in the end you had to make your character combat able as well.

      c) Ranged combat was horrible. You could abuse the hell out of force powers and plink away at mobs that were permanently stunned with your pistols, but in and of themselves blasters weren't a decent weapon choice.

      d) Levelling was fucked up. By allowing you to bank levels until you switched to your jedi class, you could completely break the difficulty of the game. Staying level 2 until the first planet was completely made the first planet way too hard, but having an extra 4-5 jedi levels made the rest of the game way too easy.

      e) You could cheese half the fights in the game with grenades and shields. That's how you get to being a jedi at level 2, but it works just as well for the rest of the game. There are very few fights that shield spam and grenades can't win.

      KotOR is one of my favorite games of all time. The story is great, there's tons of stuff you can do off the beaten path, and it has a ton of replay value. The actual gameplay is subpar, though. KotOR 2 is one of my biggest disappointments of all time because it fixed the gameplay of KotOR but was so buggy and had so much cut content you couldn't actually enjoy it. A bastard child hybrid of the two might be the best game never made.

      --
      Game... blouses.
    6. Re:Moderate gameplay by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I prefer turn-based RPGs to action games actually. Each character was largely going to focus on a set path of feats (Critical Strike, Flurry, etc), so you just spammed your feat attack, or an over-powering Force power like Force Wave. Combat was never difficult, nor was strategy ever a factor.

      Final Fantasy games get blasted for encouraging button-mashing, when in reality each character plays different enough to warrant some attention when selecting items.

      In KOTOR, I can have every character just focus on Flurry and basically spam the same button for everyone.

      Even on replays when I intentionally don't level my character until I become a Jedi, I find all the early areas frightfully easy, even with a level 2 character.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    7. Re:Moderate gameplay by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      I prefer turn-based RPGs, but I prefer turn-based RPGs like Fallout actually. I want to heartily agree with everything that lewp said.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    8. Re:Moderate gameplay by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      I really would have loved to see a properly finished KOTOR 2 with the dark ending that Chris Avellone intended.

      http://www.team-gizka.org/ is working somewhat towards that goal.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    9. Re:Moderate gameplay by AmberBlackCat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Some are being left disappointed with gameplay. I'm picking up the game for the story, and if that is good, I won't mind the gameplay so much. People forget that KOTOR's gameplay was pretty bad.

      Have you considered just getting a DVD? Then you don't have to deal with the gameplay at all.

    10. Re:Moderate gameplay by grahamd0 · · Score: 1

      I really would have loved to see a properly finished KOTOR 2 with the dark ending that Chris Avellone intended.

      http://www.team-gizka.org/ is working somewhat towards that goal.

      I support that goal as much as anyone (I think KOTOR2 was a great game), but at this point I think it's safe to say that Team Gizka has abandoned the project. Their last update was almost a year ago.

    11. Re:Moderate gameplay by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      On the main website that is. On the forums, they have updated their status even more.

      One of the latest beta releases of theirs was apparently leaked. If you really looked, I'm sure you can find it.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    12. Re:Moderate gameplay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But, at least KOTOR is a real RPG :P

    13. Re:Moderate gameplay by grahamd0 · · Score: 1

      One of the latest beta releases of theirs was apparently leaked. If you really looked, I'm sure you can find it.

      I own the xbox version, so it wouldn't do me any good anyway.

      Though I would assume they'd be interested in showing their progress on their site, rather than leaking beta versions of it.

      If they showed any obvious progress towards a 1.0 release I'd try to buy a windows version of the game to try it out, but if I can't use their mod and they don't make any effort to show they're making progress for a year then I don't see why I should go out of my way to steal their leaked beta.

    14. Re:Moderate gameplay by LarsWestergren · · Score: 2, Interesting

      KotOR is one of my favorite games of all time. The story is great, there's tons of stuff you can do off the beaten path, and it has a ton of replay value. The actual gameplay is subpar, though. KotOR 2 is one of my biggest disappointments of all time because it fixed the gameplay of KotOR but was so buggy and had so much cut content you couldn't actually enjoy it. A bastard child hybrid of the two might be the best game never made.

      You know about the Sith Lords restoration project I hope? They are still active, but I'm starting to lose hope that they will ever finish, since new bugs pop up all the time. Perhaps they are in the final phase of playtesting, but... I have been waiting for many years now.

      --

      Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die

    15. Re:Moderate gameplay by Saint+Gerbil · · Score: 1

      Getting one million people to download something for free does not mean 1 million sales. After a demo like that it likely to put a lot of people off buying it.

    16. Re:Moderate gameplay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then you'll love how this guy ruined KOTOR in a speedrun that is just over two hours :P
      Here:
        http://speeddemosarchive.com/forum/index.php/topic,8472.0.html.

    17. Re:Moderate gameplay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think it's fair to call the gameplay subpar because it has a few balance problems (so does pretty much every other RPG out there, some of them to a much higher degree). At least I found KotOR's gameplay extremely fun, despite its little flaws. You have a point about the sneaking and techie stuff. They make it useless in the vast majority of computer RPGs and it's just poor design.

      As for The Force Unleashed, I tried the demo and was quite disappointed, and I would much rather have seen another game in the Jedi Knight series. If you build on the superb gameplay from Jedi Academy, add a much better story (JA had almost none) and update the graphics to modern-day standards, you'll have one hell of a cool game. I will admit that I only know the demo for The Force Unleashed (and I sure hope the full game is better), but both lightsaber combat and the force power system seem worse than what we already had in JA.

    18. Re:Moderate gameplay by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      Hmm, I agree with many of your points, but I guess I was thinking of a slightly different definition of "gameplay".

      What you're describing I'd tend to call game balance, not gameplay (not trying to be pedantic - I was just thinking of something different than you). Generally speaking, I consider gameplay to be the basic mechanics of how the game feels and plays, which I thought was very good. How the numbers are assigned, and the formulas used - I'd call that game balance, and yeah, it had a lot of problems.

      Some of what you describe (points A and B) is a massive problem in many RPGs, not just KOTOR. That is, the idea of playing something other than a pure fighter, when combat tends to be the primary game mechanism. I've seen many games that allow you to sneak around the game, but in the end, throw you up against an end-boss in raw combat just like the fighter class (uh, WTH?). Even worse is when this happens (like in Kotor) as they take away the rest of your party (which you've likely chosen to help balance out those weaknesses). It happens so often that I've all but given up on non-melee classes in these sorts of games. They just NEVER seem to pan out well.

      I'm a bit more forgiving to Kotor in regards to your points D) and E), because this essentially requires an active effort to break the game mechanics. If that's how you have fun, more power to you, but I tend to play along with the game, not try to do any bizarre min/maxing tricks, especially on the first go-round.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    19. Re:Moderate gameplay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      KOTOR did have horrible game play. And do does the neverwinter nights games, granted the expansion packs of been pretty good...

      But let's face it, we play RPGs for the story, setting myth and lore. Morrowind and Oblivion had pretty clunky gameplay mechanics, but had amazing stories and character customization. The classic problem that has plagued RPGs is "how much action do we put in?" The more action, the less story, take out the dialogue and make the fights over the top and you get a Republic Commando, make the fights dull but the game deep and complex and you get KOTOR.

      The Force Unleashed is going to be a lot like the Jedi Knight games. Lots of action, over the top abilities....minimal story.

      It's hard to incorporate story elements into a game that has you mowing down 100 baddies before pausing for 5 minutes so you can chat with NPCs. Discontinuous stop-and-go gameplay are no fun, so designers have always gone in terms of one end of the spectrum or the other.

      Since day one, TFU has been touted for its physics and super-Jedi face-melting. This is an action game. :|

    20. Re:Moderate gameplay by Red+Flayer · · Score: 1

      I just wante to point out that most of the points you make depend on the player choosing to play that way.

      Your point (a), however, is very valid -- but is common to many rpgs with feats. The wizard in Baldur's Gate, for example -- lightning was a ridiculous spell that made almost the entire game a cinch. I tend to purposely not choose the 'l33t' feat combinations... because I enjoy difficult gameplay. The problem is as you point out, when the bosses are pretty much impossible without choosing the right feats. This is a design problem.

      At any rate, I've found that my experience with RPGs is that it's best to play like I want, not necessarily the way that's the 'best' for character advancement or dps. If I want to play stealth, and not cheese any mobs, I can do that... although it does tend to piss people off in coop play :)

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
    21. Re:Moderate gameplay by mc900ftjesus · · Score: 1

      KOTOR was an RPG, this is Star Wars: Force Throw Bonanza.

      The two games have nothing in common except the universe.

    22. Re:Moderate gameplay by Smauler · · Score: 1

      After a full day at work of programming, I prefer not to strain my already sore wrists with too much fast action.

      Funny, I'm the complete opposite. Oh, wait... you were talking about computer games, weren't you?

    23. Re:Moderate gameplay by slashgrim · · Score: 1

      in my case I wasn't interested in buying it from the trailer so I downloaded the demo...looked good, but still not interested in buying the game (maybe a rental).

      The X-Wing/Tie-Fighter series deserve a good remake, but looking at the Force Unleashed with its backwards-holding lightsaber, I'm concerned that the nextgen X-Wing game will have lowrider B-Wings and pimped out Tie Interceptors

    24. Re:Moderate gameplay by TLSPRWR · · Score: 1

      Have you considered just getting a DVD? Then you don't have to deal with the gameplay at all.

      Dude, have you tried navigating some of the "creative" DVD menus? Some levels are so tough I can't even get to the final cinematic!

  3. PC version planned... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Check the link again...a PC version IS planned.

    1. Re:PC version planned... by Skillet5151 · · Score: 1
      Orly

      Edit - direct from LucasArts - "I can tell you definitively that there is no PC version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed planned."

    2. Re:PC version planned... by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 1

      Check the link again...a PC version IS planned.

      Mod AC up. I saw this from another source this week, too. It's coming to PC.

      --
      "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
    3. Re:PC version planned... by s_p_oneil · · Score: 1

      You're right, and it's a shame. I would buy a PC version in a heart-beat, but there's no way I'll buy a console system just for one game.

    4. Re:PC version planned... by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 1

      Check the link again...a PC version IS planned.

      Mod AC up. I saw this from another source this week, too. It's coming to PC.

      Nevermind, LucasArts saw that and said it was a misunderstanding.

      --
      "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
  4. The Force is too powerful. by taxman_10m · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Bringing down a whole star destroyer?

    1. Re:The Force is too powerful. by darth_MALL · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Size matters not....

    2. Re:The Force is too powerful. by s_p_oneil · · Score: 2, Interesting

      1) The force powers in the "Jedi Knight" games gave them an edge over many other FPS's, especially in multi-player. Being able to force-choke an opponent, lift him in the air, and drop him off a ledge while he struggles has to be my all-time favorite way to kill someone in an FPS.
      2) While it may not be true to the story, it looks awesome (not the Star Destroyer part, but the force powers in general). I'd love to be able to pick up a Tie Fighter with the force and smash it into an opponent.
      3) They did say they wanted to go "over the top" with the force powers, thus the "Unleashed" name.
      4) "Size matters not."

      Having said all that, poor game-play would be truly disappointing. The story is worth something, but the feel of the game-play is extremely important.

    3. Re:The Force is too powerful. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's what she said...

    4. Re:The Force is too powerful. by grahamd0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's what she said...

      She was just being polite, man.

    5. Re:The Force is too powerful. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It could happen. After all, a handful of Jedi trainees did push away a fleet of Star Destroyers in the book Darksaber.

    6. Re:The Force is too powerful. by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you watch the 'making of' documentaries that have been available on Xbox Live for a while, you see the project leaders drilling into the teams the 'vision' statement of the game; 'kicking somebody's ass with the Force'.

      Yes, the offical one-line pitch of the game is 'kicking somebody's ass with the Force.'

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  5. George Lucas himself provided input on the project by indy_Muad'Dib · · Score: 1

    so that means this game is just KOTOR with a few more background actors right?

  6. of course its good but not great. by unity100 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    because they went the stupid route of capitalizing on wannabeeness, and calculated that if they capitalize on the 'whooo dark jedi' thing it will all be a big success. and they literally FORCED the player to do stuff that s/he may not want to do all throughout the game, but the end.

    kotor 1, 2 had been stellar successes by doing exactly otherwise - providing the player with choices starting from their first minute in the game.

    but then again, what do you expect from a game that was mainly made for xbox, a microsoft outlet ? i remember spotting anti-net neutrality rants and suggestions subtly placed in mass effect, in 'info' screens of the game telling about how networking is handled in mass effect universe. THAT kind of an evil mind.

    --
    Read radical news here
    1. Re:of course its good but not great. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      but then again, what do you expect from a game that was mainly made for xbox, a microsoft outlet ? i remember spotting anti-net neutrality rants and suggestions subtly placed in mass effect, in 'info' screens of the game telling about how networking is handled in mass effect universe. THAT kind of an evil mind.

      Seriously, do you listen to yourself when you talk? Because that's some ridiculous shit you're spewing.

      Do you really think that Microsoft paid off the Mass Effect developers to put anti-net neutrality messages in a video game so they could one day use that to push anti-net neutrality legislation through? Really, we want to know, because this sort of bizarre conspiracy theory stuff is just so hilarious to read. Please tell me you're smoking something here. I know its in to rant against Microsoft here, but this is on par with twitter in terms of delusional thinking.

    2. Re:of course its good but not great. by unity100 · · Score: 1

      conspiracy or not, its exactly, really there, and it shows like something not out of a game world but out of a at&t bought senator's talk, right in the middle of a game.

      who paid for it ? surely not at&t, paying for it in a microsoft game. it was made for microsoft after all. i cant find any other culprit here, excuse me.

      --
      Read radical news here
    3. Re:of course its good but not great. by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      What the hell are you even referencing in the game? I played the game through twice, and never saw anything like what you're describing.

      This leads me to suspect you're really exaggerating, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt... if you can give us instructions on how to find the message you speak of in the game.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    4. Re:of course its good but not great. by unity100 · · Score: 1

      it is evident that you have played the game half assed. read the info items in your datapad. or whatever the heck that was.

      --
      Read radical news here
    5. Re:of course its good but not great. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like how it has to be Microsoft. Its almost like you went in there looking for something, you found it, and then you came to the Slashdot and acted surprised you found something. (Of course, that's the scientific method around these parts.) Because a Google search turns up zero results talking about this topic, you're going to have to provide more proof, that being, actual text.

    6. Re:of course its good but not great. by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      Real specific, man. I read a whole bunch of those, which one was it?

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    7. Re:of course its good but not great. by unity100 · · Score: 1

      read about how the information system in citadel, and mass effect world in general works.

      --
      Read radical news here
  7. This is only my opinion, but.. by sleeponthemic · · Score: 1

    Isn't there a slight exaggeration as to how "fun" having the force in a video game is? Seems to me all the best star wars games have had very little to do with the force and constantly disappoint due to peoples expectations of taking on these highly lauded powers.

    --
    I record my sleeptalking
  8. "The game will not be available for PC." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    previous Star Wars games suffered from a "lack of ambition."

    i see they're keeping the ambition-level pretty constant then...

  9. Good, but not great... by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

    Early reviews for the game are good, but not great, and developers recently mentioned that George Lucas himself provided input on the project...

    Well, there you go...

    "Good, but not great" was my reaction to the demo. I might try it again tonight. I'm not sure what it was exactly that threw me off. Maybe the camera was set reverse to what I normally do. For some reason, I kept trying to push the camera the wrong way. And after getting mauled by a "boss", I lost interest. Maybe I'm getting too old for hack-and-slash action games.

    Still, it seems like an ambitious game, and I think a lot of people are likely to have fun with it for what it is.

    --
    Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    1. Re:Good, but not great... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      My only problems with the game so far are the horribly implemented Force Throw. How the hell many of those objects manage to go off into complete tangents is beyond me. The other - QTEs. They do absolutely nothing for the gameplay - they stick out like a sore thumb and remove the player from the game. Could the devs really find no other way to have you bisect the AT-ST? Here's hoping they're used sparingly.

      Aside from those two complaints, it felt like a decent hack-and-slasher.

  10. Gravity Gun is better! by jensen404 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm not much of a console gamer (I tried it on my brother's XBox). The Gravity gun in Half-Life 2 is so much easier and more gratifying to use than the Force move powers. The third person perspective in SW:FU makes it hard to select an object quickly. Both control sticks are used to move objects, making it feel mechanical. When throwing an object, it moves from the character's point of view, so it is hard to aim. Maybe I just suck at using gamepads.

    1. Re:Gravity Gun is better! by jannone · · Score: 1

      So maybe the Wii version will be better this time, gameplay-wise.

  11. You are part of the problem by nobodyman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm picking up the game for the story, and if that is good, I won't mind the gameplay so much.

    While I can see your point to some extent (I like the Star Wars universe too), I can't help thinking that you're part of "the problem" when it comes to LucasArts, and the whole movie-tie-in market in general. What publisher is going to put any effort in making a good game if they know people like you will line up to buy it even if it sucks?

    LucasArts used to make top-notch games: Full-Throttle, Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, X-Wing, and dozens more in every genre. But then Lucasarts executives (and Lucas himself, I imagine) realized that the most profitable thing to do was to churn out countless Star Wars games irrespective of quality. Yeah, there's been a couple good ones, but for every "Knights of the Old Republic" there's at least ten "Star Wars: Galaxies - Episode III Rage of the Wookiees"

    1. Re:You are part of the problem by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Many people don't realize that LucasArts went bankrupt and folded, and that the new company is exactly that. ILM is making technology that will help ILM as much as LucasArts, and then finding a means to build a game around that. Look at the physics and dynamic rendering of the the new Indy game they are developing for instance.

      LA did realize they flooded the market with crap games (Super BomBad Racing, Clone Wars, Bounty Hunter, Episode 1, etc) so now we're only going to get maybe 1 or 2 Star Wars titles a year.

      I prefer the smaller, more polished titles, but I also would prefer to move back to titles like X-Wing.

      Aren't we due for a new X-Wing title that features ships from all 6 movies, and the EU? Wouldn't that just sell like mad?

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    2. Re:You are part of the problem by SirSlud · · Score: 1

      In an age where joysticks didn't cost 90 bucks, X-Wing sold like crazy.

      It's a little weird. Genres often live or die based on what the dominant interface is.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    3. Re:You are part of the problem by nobodyman · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Emphasis mine:

      Many people don't realize that LucasArts went bankrupt and folded, and that the new company is exactly that

      Citation needed. I certaintly don't remember hearing this, and I can't find it on LA website, wikipedia, google, etc. There were rumors of this following a series of layoffs, but it turned out that LucasArts had abandoned much of its internal development and would farm everything out to 3rd parties from then on. At least that's what I heard, I admit that my memory is fuzzy on that point.

      That said, I agree that it's a crime we get crap like Adventures of Obi-wan but no continuation of the X-Wing/Tie-Fighter franchise.

    4. Re:You are part of the problem by grahamd0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Aren't we due for a new X-Wing title that features ships from all 6 movies, and the EU?

      I don't know man. Somehow I doubt the eurofighter stands up against an A-Wing.

    5. Re:You are part of the problem by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Informative

      Wow. Google is failing me at the moment, but rest assured it happened. It was what moved the KOTOR 2 release up. LucasArts completely closed shop, and laid off their employees. There was an internal development team doing pre-production on KOTOR 3, among other products that were laid off. The facility closed, and LucasArts reopened internally within ILM.

      http://www.lockergnome.com/game/2004/11/02/lucasarts-layoffs/

      Amazingly enough, Google isn't finding much on it now.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    6. Re:You are part of the problem by Duffy13 · · Score: 1

      Personally, I've been waiting for the space sim that includes the usual X-Wing/TIE Fighter gameplay but also adds in the capital ships.

      --
      "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!"
    7. Re:You are part of the problem by Clever7Devil · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Seriously. When do I get my next item/puzzle-based single player game?

      Day of the Tentacle is still one of my favorite games of all time. Did anyone else have that LA variety pack? Had Sam and Max, DOTT, Fate of Atlantis. Several others as well.

      Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I remember having a lot of fun with these titles. Not to mention Dark Forces. That was the FPS yeah?

      Mostly I think new technology is becoming a burden to games. So much is focused on being visually and operationally stunning that much is lost in actual story and gameplay.

      --
      "By the time they had diminished from 50 to 8, the other dwarves began to suspect 'Hungry.'" -Gary Larson
    8. Re:You are part of the problem by santiagodraco · · Score: 1

      Do you really think that they sit in some board room and say "let's not worry about quality, just add a bunch of Star Wars filler, it will sell"?

      Of course they want great gameplay. They want a great game. No developer doesn't and it's absurd to assume they do. Especially houses like Lucas Arts.

      Sometimes they just don't get it right. It happens all the time. It's not some kind of conspiracy.

    9. Re:You are part of the problem by inKubus · · Score: 1

      That's the nice thing about the star wars universe though. I mean, it fits RPG, first person, pilot, even maybe educational/fitness orientated (like on the Wii, and you have to hold the dohicky out at arm's length for 5 minutes without moving to raise the ship). I mean, it's like life itself. What's gone is the youth interest. I mean, there are rare kids who like it. But really, the generation of young people we see today is really obsessed with Japan and less so with Lucas' repackaging of Kaballah adventure stories. I dunno, it's time was here, and then it past. What ever happened to the Matrix? Was that just a fad? I just watched them and it was really quite good. But the thing about the Star Wars (original 3 movies) is that they had slow parts back in the 70's and 80's. You have to be bored during points in the movie to experience excitement during the other parts. Somehow that has been forgotten.

      --
      Cool! Amazing Toys.
    10. Re:You are part of the problem by Enderandrew · · Score: 1

      X-Wing Alliance featured most every Star Wars ship from the original trilogy, capital ships, and some EU ships. There is even a fan community that adds new ships, and releases upgraded textures and models for existing ships.

      It is an old game, but apparently it can still be bought for $10-$15.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    11. Re:You are part of the problem by Bodrius · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I think you may be misreading the parent post.

      Buying the game for the story doesn't mean you're buying because of the tie-in.

      I'd also buy adventure / rpg games for the story - but what I'm looking for is primarily a GOOD story. Which is sorely lacking in franchise games (or games in general).

      Most of the LucasArts games you describe were top-notch because they had great stories - not really great or innovative "gameplay" (except for X-Wing / Tie Fighter - that was gameplay).

      Storytelling was the strength of LucasArts, for obvious reasons. There's no "problem" with that, since stories ARE a vital part of entertainment for some of us.

      E.g.: Deus Ex is still one of my favorite games - it was an 'ok' FPS, but it has a great story and narrative quality. KOTOR had similar virtues / flaws mix in its genre, and more recently and to a lesser degree, so did Mass Effect.

      The "problem" you describe is with crappy games with no redeeming quality - no gameplay, no story, no primary entertainment factor.

      But even these days I'd have more faith in LucasArts' storytelling prowess than their game design skills. That just means I'm more likely to buy their game, since I care mostly about the story, than an FPS / action game fan, who's more concerned about the gameplay.

       

      --
      Freedom is the freedom to say 2+2=4, everything else follows...
    12. Re:You are part of the problem by OutLawSuit · · Score: 1

      Most movie-tie-in games are not purchased for the continued story; I think it more has to do with uninformed consumers who just recognize the name. Like how many parents are going to buy their kid a game like Okami when they could just buy a game from a franchise that even they recognize? Basically as long as there are uninformed consumers, those crappy movie-tie-in games will continue to sell better than they should.

      Star Wars is one of the few franchises I'd think where informed consumers are more likely to buy a crappy game than not though.

    13. Re:You are part of the problem by HadouKen24 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      High end joysticks cost about 90 bucks, but that's always been the case. You can still pick up a decent quality joystick that will do just fine for X-wing/TIE Fighter style games for about 20 bucks. I spent a good chunk of my free time this summer playing just these kinds of games.

      If it seems that joysticks cost 90 bucks, that's because the main focus in the joystick industry for the last five years has been on realistic flight sims; there just haven't been any high-profile, high-budget Mech or space combat sims since Freespace 2. Were LucasArts (Or anyone else for that matter) were to rectify the situation, there would be a lot more budget joysticks being sold.

    14. Re:You are part of the problem by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      I'm not so sure. It takes a very proactive stance in order to make a great game. That means not releasing the product until you're sure it measures up to your own standards. That requires two things: A developer who can actually pull this off in the first place. It's not smart to wait and wait and wait for some developers (see: Daikatana, Duke Nukem Forever). And it requires a publisher with the financial backing and the patience to wait for the developer to iterate and polish, even though the game may appear finished to an untrained eye.

      It's a pretty rare combination in this industry. I'm guessing we can name at least one company that does this routinely, and most of us can name a few others that do it fairly consistently. But most publishers are content to put out a high volume of "good enough". I'm sure we can all also name at least one publisher who this applies to as well.

      And believe me - I've worked at development houses and with publishers who were much more concerned with timetables than with quality. It's typically because of budgetary restrictions. If you have a fixed budget, you have a fixed amount of time before the game is no longer profitable. It's as simple as that. Yes, they cared about quality of course, but only to the extent it didn't impact the schedule.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    15. Re:You are part of the problem by blackicye · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I played the X-Wing series with mouse and keyboard actually, as did most of the people who were playing the series.

      Joysticks are seldom if ever used in games these days (aside from Flight Simulators)

      Gamepads seem to be replacing the niche once held by joysticks, and they cost about the same.

    16. Re:You are part of the problem by LarsWestergren · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Seriously. When do I get my next item/puzzle-based single player game?

      Seriously, you can't have been looking very hard? There are oodles of current and upcoming classic adventure, puzzle, action/adventure/rpg games, even if they don't get much attention on mainstream sites:

      Two whole Sam and Max seasons by Telltale games, their upcoming Wallace and Gromit game, Deus Ex 3 hopefully, Braid for PS3 or PC, DeathSpank by Ron Gilbert (Monkey Island, Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle), Machinarium, World of Goo by 2D Boy, "realistic physics horror puzzler" Penumbra:Black Plague, the two classics Vampire:Bloodlines and Psychonauts (available on Steam), the horror adventure game Three Cards To Midnight by the people who made the Tex Murphy games (Under a Killing Moon etc).

      There is also the Dracula, Sherlock Holmes games, though I hesitate to recommend them because didn't really connect with them when I played the demos.

      Best site to keep track of good indie games and good PC games for the thinking man/woman- here.

      --

      Being bitter is drinking poison and hoping someone else will die

    17. Re:You are part of the problem by LuNa7ic · · Score: 1

      A long as they develope it with PC in mind. I have very fond memories of X-Wing Alliance, and it's depth made it awesome. I loved being able to choose an A-Wing, then reroute all my shield power to engines. Order wingmen around was good too. If they create a sequel, then drop all these features, man will I be pee'ed off. [/geekiness]

      --
      *runs*
    18. Re:You are part of the problem by MrAnnoyanceToYou · · Score: 1

      Heh. Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Light Speed had all six. :)

      And More.

      It's just that the gameplay wasn't as good as x-wing.

      I should know, I was a starship manufacturer. :P

      --
      My little site.
    19. Re:You are part of the problem by cbrichar · · Score: 1

      ...the horror adventure game Three Cards To Midnight by the people who made the Tex Murphy games...

      Holy hell, WHAT?! Why wasn't I informed of this sooner? Someone's getting their ass fired over this one.

      (Incidentally, thanks. You've just made my day.)

    20. Re:You are part of the problem by not+already+in+use · · Score: 1

      The X-Wing games were awesome. It's been almost 10 years since the last one came out. If there's any winning formula to revive, it would be that series. I can't even imagine what they could do with that game on today's hardware...

      --
      Similes are like metaphors
    21. Re:You are part of the problem by TheVelvetFlamebait · · Score: 1

      LucasArts used to make top-notch games: Full-Throttle, Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, X-Wing, and dozens more in every genre.

      Ahh Grim Fandango! Wasn't that the game with an excellent plot and setting, but a broken and annoying control scheme?

      --
      You know, there is a difference between trolling and pointing out the flaws in your reasoning. Just saying.
    22. Re:You are part of the problem by santiagodraco · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure. No one wants to hear they are poor designers, they try hard. I can't imagine not wanting to do well.

      Remember this thread is about Lucas, they/he have the money and have spent it. The question is whether they have the right team. Being "truely good" at game design, top to bottom, is rare, hence so many mediocre games. Not because they want them to be mediocre but rather because that's all they are capable of.

      During game development there probably comes a time when someone realizes the game isn't as good as it was intended to be and that's when you have to decide whether to keep trying to fix it (with the fear you can't) or release it as good as you can. Pretty much a matter of economics at that point, but it's not how it starts out.

    23. Re:You are part of the problem by StalinsNotDead · · Score: 1

      I'm sorry, the planet does not exist in the archive.

      --
      Thanks to the internet, we can now all die alone together! -SomeWoman
    24. Re:You are part of the problem by Morkano · · Score: 1

      X3: Terran Conflict comes out in October while we're on the subject.

      X3: The Reunion is an amazing and gorgeous elite style game, once you get over the steep learning curve. There are a tonne of sweet mods available, and in fact a lot of the mod makers were hired to work on Terran Conflict.

      If you're at all interested in this sort of game, check it out. It's on Steam.

      --
      Victory or awesome!
    25. Re:You are part of the problem by HadouKen24 · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, the X series has no multiplayer. As anyone who spent much time playing X-Wing vs. TIE or X-Wing: Alliance can tell you, this is disheartening. Multiplayer in those games was amazing.

    26. Re:You are part of the problem by HadouKen24 · · Score: 1

      Every single game in the X-Wing series had capital ships. Or did you mean allowing the players to take control of the capital ships? That would be very nice. I don't think I've seen it done in online play.

      Regardless, the best capital ships in any space combat sim I've played are in Freespace 2.

    27. Re:You are part of the problem by bar-agent · · Score: 1

      I loved Dark Forces! The settings and levels just screamed Star Wars, they were frickin' perfect. Imperial City? Awesome. The weapons were interesting, too. I liked that you weren't playing a Jedi. One of the disappointments of the later Star Wars FPS games was how Jedi-focused they were. I mean, the Jedi are cool and all, but I like Han Solo better.

      --
      i'd hit it so hard, if you pulled me out you'd be the king of britain [bash.org]
    28. Re:You are part of the problem by Duffy13 · · Score: 1

      Yea, I meant playable.

      --
      "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!"
  12. JKII... by i.of.the.storm · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I miss Jedi Knight II... whatever happened to that storyline, anyway? Kyle Katarn was awesome. Jedi Academy was really fun too. The dual-sided lightsaber was so powerful, I loved it. This is bringing back a lot of memories, of the days when Lucasarts didn't suck.

    --
    All your base are belong to Wii.
    1. Re:JKII... by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      Dude... Jedi Academy was only 5 years ago. I somehow sincerely doubt that LucasArts' staff has gone through that much turnover in the last 5 years.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
    2. Re:JKII... by i.of.the.storm · · Score: 1

      Haha, I guess you're right. But even if the staff was the same, the management might not be, and they might be more focused on making money easily rather than making a good product, and everyone knows that any decent game with the Star Wars license is guaranteed to sell well. Anyway, I just had another idea that will unfortunately likely never happen. It would be amazing if there was a homebrew port of Jedi Knight II/Jedi Academy to the Wii with good lightsaber controls with Wii Motion Plus. Incidentally, 1:1 motion control is impossible no matter what technology is used unless they develop something to actively push against you when you hit something. I suppose it's theoretically possible since IIRC they used the Quake 3 engine, but very, very unlikely.

      --
      All your base are belong to Wii.
    3. Re:JKII... by shoegoo · · Score: 1

      I have to agree with JK2. That is my favorite Star Wars game. I enjoyed Rogue Squadron (woo 4MB memory expansion!) and Episode 1 Racer too.

    4. Re:JKII... by mako1138 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I wonder why they haven't announced another JK-style FPS.

    5. Re:JKII... by Reapy · · Score: 1

      I don't think it was that long ago.

      Either way my fav star wars game had to be jedi outcast...jedi academy was cool with what it added, but by then the multiplayer community sucked the big one, and there just weren't enough people playing it that you could find a "regular" game of it, not loaded down with a bunch of people thinking they are playing an rpg. Imagine walking around playing q3 with your gun lowered then complaining to people when you get fragged...yeah that was the jedi outcast online community.

      Anyway, as to the demo here. Force power + tech behind it was really sweet. Unfortunatly, the gameplay around it kind of felt lack luster. The saber combat really feels like every action game with a sword. That isn't a bad thing, but not unique at all.

      I wish to god someone would make a really great melee game. I still play busido blade 2 to get that feel for slice and dice I want. JO made a good stab (ha ha) at it, but fell a bit short of what could be done!

    6. Re:JKII... by i.of.the.storm · · Score: 1

      Never played Jedi Outcast online unfortunately, but playing with bots wasn't bad. The lightsaber gameplay in both JKII and JA was great though.

      --
      All your base are belong to Wii.
    7. Re:JKII... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The staff lightsaber sucks. The best lightsaber style in Jedi Academy is single strong. You can kill anyone with a single hit if you know how to use it.

    8. Re:JKII... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have got to be kidding. The bots in Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy sucked ass. They run on predefined bot routes and are unable to utilize any complex movement or actions.

      If you think otherwise, prepare to have your ass handed to you if you ever do play either of those games online. Even the noobs are far better than the bots.

  13. Lucas Provided Input? Oh... by McNally · · Score: 4, Funny

    and developers recently mentioned that George Lucas himself provided input on the project.

    Meesah sorry to hear that.

  14. Army of clone buyers by davidwr · · Score: 1

    When millions of clone-army customers are out to quash the rebellion on the internets, things like this are bound to happen.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  15. Lack of ambition? by grahamd0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Knights of the Old Republic and Tie Fighter suffered from a "lack of ambition"?

    Fuck you, guy I've never heard of before. Guess what, physics games have been done. Played Half-Life 2? No... really? Try it, it's great.

    1. Re:Lack of ambition? by russlar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Guess what, physics games have been done. Played Half-Life 2? No... really? Try it, it's great.

      Yeah, Half Life 2's pretty good, but for the ultimate physics game, you gotta try this new game from France called Large Hadron Collider.

      --
      Anybody want my mod points?
    2. Re:Lack of ambition? by jannone · · Score: 4, Funny

      I also find their "lack of ambition"... disturbing.

    3. Re:Lack of ambition? by Fx.Dr · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's gotten great reviews, they say it's absolutely smashing.

    4. Re:Lack of ambition? by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 0, Troll

      I've heard it's pretty repetitive though.

      --
      If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
    5. Re:Lack of ambition? by JumperCables233 · · Score: 1

      I tried to play it but my character just kept getting sucked into that black hole in level 2.

    6. Re:Lack of ambition? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      heard some greeks cracked it . . . torrent this we will

  16. Re:Lucas Provided Input? Oh... by caladine · · Score: 1

    It's the kiss of death...

  17. Re:fp by carlmenezes · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please don't unleash the force.

    --
    Find a job you like and you will never work a day in your life.
  18. Hmmm. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    >Early reviews for the game are good, but not great, and developers recently mentioned that George Lucas himself provided input on the project.

    A clue, Sherlock!

  19. Force Unleased sets record boredom by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The demo was kind of cool at first, but it quickly became boring. It was too repetitive and dull. It started off good, but then i realized its just about running around a large map running into the same badguys over and over.... pick a box up throw it.

    Graphically, its pretty nice but the gameplay didnt have that special something.

    1. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by grahamd0 · · Score: 1

      Graphically, its pretty nice but the gameplay didnt have that special something.

      You mean like a lack of ambition?

    2. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by k-macjapan · · Score: 1

      The demo is pretty fun ill give it that, however the targeting system is terrible. Jumping into a group of enemies and smashing 3 buttons will get old fast though. If it was possible I would rent the game rather than wasting $60 for the one time I would play it, as I am sure jumping into a group of enemies and hitting the same 3 buttons over and over will have no replay value.

    3. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by k-macjapan · · Score: 1

      Please ignore the poor editing in the above post...

    4. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My problem with the demo...

      Any demo that takes less time to play than it took to download leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

      Destroying the walker was also annoying. The combo thing pops up without warning. It took me five tries before I could stop myself from pressing X again before it was indicating I need to press A.

      I'll pass on this one.

    5. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by Reapy · · Score: 1

      I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. I think I'm like wrestling with some inner conflict like "IT HAS TO BE FUN" because I played the demo and was like, omfg this is sweet as hell!! But then realized that I liked seeing all the tech in action that I had read about, the way they have the doors bust open, the way soldiers will grab on to things as you drag them around with the force powers, all that.

      But then I realized they were just trying to copy god of war with their gameplay. Quick time events are cool, and they gave you plenty of time to hit the button, so they weren't hard.

      I had trouble with force abilities, but really that was the best scheme for it and with practice I can see that working. The targeting was horrible though, I could never seem to pick up the guy I wanted too, or actually turn the camera fast enough to the left and right to see what I wanted (might be tweakable), or just in a room full of bad guys, just couldnt target who I wanted to use the force powers on.

      But ok, throwing things around got old kinda fast. I mean, you walk into a room with 10 guys right, your options are like, pick up barrel and throw it at them, or go in and cut them up. After the barrel throwing game gets old (after 10 seconds), you try to wade in and do some damage with the saber.

      The combos were lack luster and boring. When you lightening up the sword the graphical effect is cool, but it just doesnt feel, hard hitting at all. Maybe that's cause at each contact the game pauses for some dramatic effect, which might work for rare special moves, but my quick hits shouldnt be contacting like that.

      I'd rather see something like some trash troops where my saber hacks off body parts each cut, and then introduce "gimmic" soldiers later that can take a few hits from the saber due to some special armor or whatever bs.

      But yeah, if the saber combat falls appart, you are left with picking up guys and tossing them. I don't find that interesting, or unique, and I'm actually a person that HATED the grav gun sequences in half life. Picking up and throwing things is really not that exciting, it's more like the devs patting themselves on the back they've come up with a cool new technology.

      But, I guess to each their own. I know they will have some cool gimmics in the game, but, just a lot of potential lost here, much like assasin's creed :)

    6. Re:Force Unleased sets record boredom by slashgrim · · Score: 1

      Please ignore the poor editing in the above post...

      ok

  20. wrongsummary, posternotreadingtfa by JackassJedi · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Actually, there will be a PC version:

    "[...] It's crazy that this isn't already in the wild, but turns out plans for a PC version of heavily-physicsed Star Wars Sith 'em up The Force Unleashed were quietly revealed at NVIDIA's recent NVISION 08 conference. [...]"

    (From this linked article.)

    --
    Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many.
    1. Re:wrongsummary, posternotreadingtfa by JackassJedi · · Score: 1

      Great, i was the first to post the error in the summary and get a redundant because other people posted upward comments after that, probably someone mentioning the same thing.. ah the wonders of /. moderation

      --
      Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many.
  21. I'm sorry but... by pizzach · · Score: 3, Funny

    LucasArts used to make top-notch games: Full-Throttle, Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, X-Wing, and dozens more in every genre. But then Lucasarts executives (and Lucas himself, I imagine) realized that the most profitable thing to do was to churn out countless Star Wars games irrespective of quality. Yeah, there's been a couple good ones, but for every "Knights of the Old Republic" there's at least ten "Star Wars: Galaxies - Episode III Rage of the Wookiees"

    Star Wars: Rage of the Wookiees sounds awesome! But I can't seem to find it on ebay?

    --
    Once you start despising the jerks, you become one.
    1. Re:I'm sorry but... by ayembee · · Score: 1

      You may need to look for it in the "furries" section. If you're over 18.

    2. Re:I'm sorry but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just search for "Galaxies: Christmas Special".

    3. Re:I'm sorry but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't sound that exciting to me.

      The first rule of that game:
      Let the Wookie win.

    4. Re:I'm sorry but... by illumin8 · · Score: 1

      Star Wars: Rage of the Wookiees sounds awesome! But I can't seem to find it on ebay?

      He means "Rage of the Ewoks" and that's why you can't find it. It was so bad we dumped all of the copies in some trash compactor on the death star before shooting torpedoes into it's exhaust port.

      --
      "When the president does it, that means it's not illegal." - Richard M. Nixon
  22. Re:fp by Chiaro+Meratilo · · Score: 1

    Force push!

  23. Re:-1 flamebait? by grahamd0 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Really, Mr. Coward?

    You mean burying interesting and insightful stuff like:

    But it does illustrate what a gigantic clusterfuck Microsoft has with the 360.

    Referring to a game that's being released on PS3, 360 and Wii?

    Or were you referring to the objective and replete with citations:

    A healthy console shouldn't have some crossplatform third party game be its most popular download.

    Can your explain, in your in your great anonymity, why exactly a highly anticipated game based on an established franchise that's been part of popular culture for a generation shouldn't be the most popular downloaded DEMO on a particular console?

    No, Mr. Coward. I don't seek to bury posts I disagree with, I seek to bury flamebait trolls that offer nothing to discussion at hand. And I never post anonymously.

    Fuck you,

    Graham

  24. It's like you're from opposite town or something by nobodyman · · Score: 1

    People forget that KOTOR's gameplay was pretty bad.

    Somehow I missed this upon first reading. Now I think you're just plain nuts! I thought the gameplay was solid and the graphics (driven by a souped-up NWN engine) were great. Yeah, the "action" mini-games were a tad weak, but that literally amounted to less than %1 of the total gameplay.

  25. Early reviews are fair to bad, not great. by nweaver · · Score: 1

    EG, the mediacritic places it down with the Incredible Hulk, and Penny Arcade harshed it.

    --
    Test your net with Netalyzr
    1. Re:Early reviews are fair to bad, not great. by bigstrat2003 · · Score: 1

      I loved the demo, but Penny Arcade's review does make me leery. Then again, I've also harshly disagreed with Gabe and Tycho on games before, so I'll really need to see some other reviews before I make a call as to whether their complaints were merited.

      --
      "16MB (fuck off, MiB fascists)" - The Mighty Buzzard
  26. Re:-1 flamebait? by grahamd0 · · Score: 1

    You are being watched now.

    Yeah, you'd better keep an eye on me. You never know where I'll turn up.

  27. wow by unity100 · · Score: 1

    so you googled for an entry in mass effect game world datapad. thats really telling.

    game was made for microsoft. what can you link it to ? al kaeda ?

    play the game yourself and see. i didnt know that it was made for xbox with microsoft's request until i got 75% into the game.

    --
    Read radical news here
    1. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, it is telling. It means I wanted more discussion of the topic from a less biased source than yourself. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that this was a legitimate issue and hoped there'd be more discussion on the matter. The fact that there isn't does nothing to help your side. (Unless, of course, the web is controlled by Microsoft as well.)

      Just because it started as a console exclusive doesn't mean MS got to insert content into the game. Have you tried explaining this brilliant revelation to anyone in real life? Let me know how it goes.

    2. Re:wow by unity100 · · Score: 1

      go play the game. whether im biased or not, the text is in there.

      --
      Read radical news here
  28. First stage by Shados · · Score: 1

    The first stage alone is worth the 60$ for the game. For those who don't know (its kind of a spoiler...but its the FIRST stage, so whatever!), the first stage is a prequel to the actual game, and you play as Darth Vader himself with basically all of the skills maxed out, except with Force Lightning swapped out for Force Choke (since I beleive story-wise Darth Vader cannot use Force Lightning).

    There was a video of the early game made by GameSpot... the demo really doesn't do the game justice. And screw the reviews. Is there still people who don't realise that buying out critics is the norm more than the exception in the industry? So the poor reviews probably just mean critics weren't bought and that the game isn't Final Fantasy: The Force Unleashed, or Halo 4: Force Unleashed Evolved.

    1. Re:First stage by ShadowsHawk · · Score: 1

      Yay, another game where I get to immediately experience every great weapon and skill only to have it ripped away. I'm a bit tired of being neutered.

  29. there is no fail.. only do or continue from cp by floatingrunner · · Score: 0

    - you learn the powers by pressing keys in awkward positions on the controller. - you wield a sword that can cut medal like hot knife on butter and miraculously not injur yourself. and finally - you pick a side and will always guarantee win (i swear this is some sort of census to see who will join the Sith and the Jedi) - if you should fail... relax, press OK to continue. presevere! - when desperate, look online for help

  30. Re:fp by philspear · · Score: 1

    I would like to see him combine lightning with his "lightsaber" though.

  31. I have started my boycott of lucas properties by DragonTHC · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I, for over 20 years, have supported LucasArts and Lucasfilm.

    no more.

    Their decision not to build a PC version has crossed a line.

    the producer in charge of TFU Cameron Suey stated that the game would be a "watered down experience" on anything less than a $4,000 PC. couldn't be more watered down than ps2 or psp or DS! a $699 pc can play crysis warhead on high @30fps, so it ought to be able to smoke the pants off an xbox360 or ps3 running in low resolution.

    so I have chosen not to consume lucas made goods or services. I decided not to see the new clone wars movies, and I can say definitively, I won't be buying my son any lucas toys over the next 15 years. I was a loyal fan and customer. It's no surprise they have chosen payday over their fans. They are a business at the end of the day.

    --
    They're using their grammar skills there.
    1. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by burgundysizzle · · Score: 1

      I think it has more to do with piracy fears except noone seems willing to come out and say that.

      PC owners rejoice, you can look forward to spending less money on games as they either don't get ported or come out 6 months after the consoles have the games.

      On the plus side M$S must realise that fewer games for PCs means less requirement for running windows (for games at least) and that has to be somewhat worrying.

    2. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      "a $699 pc [tigerdirect.com] can play crysis warhead on high @30fps, so it ought to be able to smoke the pants off an xbox360 or ps3 running in low resolution."

      No really it can't. I have a $3,000 PC and it can't run crysis on high at 30fps without stuttering a fair bit now and again.

      PCs have too much legacy architecture for support of various devices and such in them that consoles don't need to have. Consoles are more streamlined in that they just have what's needed for gaming now and not a lot else whilst PCs have a lot of bottlenecks that exist to ensure a business app or some hardware from the 80s will keep working.

      It doesn't matter that say the 360 has only a 3.2ghz tripple core processor (although that's still much better than 99% of consumer PCs out there right now), the point is it's more efficient for a select purpose.

      You'll get a lot better graphics at much better performance off a dedicated games console for quite a long while after PCs outspec them.

      This is why I gave up on PC gaming to an extent, you can pour $3,000 into the latest and greatest system, or you can pay 15% of that price and end up playing games that look and play better on a console without any of the complications of PC gaming or worry about DRM on discs screwing up your PC or making sure you have the latest or best drivers or overclocking and shortening the life of your system to try and squeeze just enough FPS to play a game in a way that it looks nice.

    3. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cameron is not the producer in charge of TFU. Hayden is the producer in charge.

      Cameron's talking crap. Any PC with a 7800 or above can handle TFU. After all, PS3 does! But piracy is rampant on PC and it costs more to get the game working on all PCs than they'd ever make back on that platform. Yes, they're a business. If you were a real fan you'd buy a console to play this game on. LucasArts don't owe you anything just because you love Star Wars.

    4. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by DragonTHC · · Score: 1

      I already own an xbox 360, but I'm not buying this game.

      and don't give me that "real fan" crap.

      Lucas owes me and all their other fans who have financially supported the company.

      I have been buying LucasArts games for over 20 years. So, yes, they do owe me and every other paying customer something, their success.

      --
      They're using their grammar skills there.
    5. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by DragonTHC · · Score: 1

      wow are you just completely ignorant. That warhead PC has been crytek's test platform for Crysis Warhead since early development. So, yes, it really can. That's the whole point. And you are just another ignorant AC.

      --
      They're using their grammar skills there.
    6. Re:I have started my boycott of lucas properties by PopeGumby · · Score: 1

      Lucas owes me and all their other fans who have financially supported the company.
      ...
      So, yes, they do owe me and every other paying customer something, their success.

      They already repaid that debt, in advance, by making the product, which you and other fans then made successful. Thinking you are owed something AFTER that, just because you bought into the early products, is asinine.

      I don't think anyone should buy this game just because it's lucasArts, but not buying it for the same reason is just as asinine.

  32. Say it ain't so by GoodNicksAreTaken · · Score: 1

    Give me a decent adventure game. I don't care if you make Guybrush carry a light-saber. Dress Sam as a wookie and Max as an ewok. I don't care. Manny could be a storm trooper. I just want more SCUMM and GrimeE adventures.

  33. Lay-offs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It must have been a pretty lame launch party, given that they laid off all the developers a few weeks ago.

  34. Layoffs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently nobody seems to care that the majority of the development team was laid off before release, in what was likely a cost-cutting move.

    I mean, hey - you don't have to pay bonuses to people you fired. Maybe Lucas should provide some input on that.

  35. SF "Launch party" is at Best Buy by Animats · · Score: 2, Informative

    Where's the launch party? One of the big nightclubs, like Ruby Skye or the DNA Lounge? No. Lucasfilm's facility in the Presidio? No. The Metreon, where Sony still has the Playstation store? No.

    It's at the Best Buy on Harrison at 101. That's not a launch party. It's not even a good retail outlet.

  36. No, that part is fun by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Isn't there a slight exaggeration as to how "fun" having the force in a video game is?

    No - it's fun in the same way many physics based games are fun - like Portal, or even the gravity gun in HL2. It's pretty fun to fling around stormtroopers, or fling things into stormtroopers, or just to wave a stormtrooper around and gently set him down. Or to open a door slightly, then pick up a box and ram it around the room inside into things you can't see. Or to bend a girder into the path of a tie fighter. It's using powers to move things around to accomplish a goal in a unique way, that is fairly fun.

    So that part is pretty fun, for me it's more a question of how good the story is, or how deep using the force as a tool gets after you level stuff up for a while. I'm still really on the fence about buying this despite having really liked the demo and played through it repeatedly. The only issue I found is that I found it a little bit touchy when locking on to some objects I wished to lock into to throw around, and sometimes that was a little frustrating.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  37. Fransisco - Francisco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    spelling mistake, doh!

  38. Pussy Nazi Sez by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No pussy for YOU!

  39. Awfully linear by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

    As for me, I downloaded the PS3 demo last week, found it incredibly dull, deleted it. Disclaimer: I've always been more of a Star Trek fan, anyway.

    Well being able to toss junk around and make the bad guys fall down is fun. Too bad you can't move while doing it, that takes a lot of the fun back. Otherwise, this is a really linear romp. Exactly one path through the maze, a stupid reaction puzzle disguised as a chicken walker at the end of the hall. Such high production values, so little game.

    --
    Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
    1. Re:Awfully linear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      note that in the demo you play with all force powers at level 1 (you evolve force push to lvl 2 during the demo, allowing you to charge up).

      Im fully expecting that when you level up force grab, you wont only be able to pick up bigger stuff, but also to move while doing so. Thats the way it worked in jedi academy iirc (lv1: static grip, cant even move the object, lv2: move the object while gripping, lv3, move everything).

      i thought the demo was a bit dull as well, but coming back to it a few days later was a hell of a lot of fun. i enjoyed JA a lot, and TFU allows more ease when using/switching force powers, so ill pick it up, if only to try and make the longest storm trooper chain hanging from the cealing

  40. I tried the demo, not for me. by AbRASiON · · Score: 1

    The gameplay was so 'arcadey' - it felt like a Wii game.
    I mean cmon - the guys force powers at the START of the game were strong as the emperor, the light saber is taking 5 hits to kill a trooper (huh?)
    I mean it LOOKS cool and would play cool for kids but I always preffered the more serious stuff.

    I always preferred X-Wing or Tie Fighter compared to X-Wing vs Tie Fighter (the 'arcadey' one) :/
    Not fun, if the demo was the LAST level of the game, well - maybe awesome but the start, nope.

    1. Re:I tried the demo, not for me. by PopeGumby · · Score: 1

      I mean cmon - the guys force powers at the START of the game were strong as the emperor,

      I think I read somewhere that the powers in the demo were increased to give you more of a feel, and during the actual game you'll start off with very basic ones and work your way up

      but I agree with your sentiment on the lightsabre, it should be one hit one kill on 99% of things...

  41. Not available for PC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Didn't they just say it was available for XBox? Isn't that a PC? Intel/runs windows/NVIDIA chip? Or am I missing something?

    1. Re:Not available for PC? by oberondarksoul · · Score: 1

      It's referring to the Xbox 360, which is a PowerPC-like Cell, ATi graphics, and a different OS.

      --
      And tomorrow the stock exchange will be the human race
  42. No kidding. by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    According to Eurogamer's interview with producer Cameron Suey, previous Star Wars games suffered from a "lack of ambition."

    Bingo. LucasArts - while famous for their groundbreaking games back in the early days (80s/90s) - has been screwing around with their StarWars franchise for quite some time now. Watch the latest CloneWars movie to see what I mean. That a SW Game get press for not being that bad shows how far LA has sunk. I personally consider this the most promising game in the SW universe right now (a HL full conversion). Sadly enough, LucasArts is so corrupted with politics, they don't give a damn about modders / enthusiast game developers. Would this be Valve themselves, they'd've hired the entire team allready.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
  43. Good but not great. by Joker1980 · · Score: 1

    I remember seeing the technical demos and concept animations and thinking that looks cool but they'll never be able to make a playable game out of it. Downloaded the demo and i was right it doesent really work, however with that said its MUCH MUCH better than i was expecting. Its far from perfect and has many irritations (poor targeting, immobile while forcing etc etc) but its a good laugh and i will probably pick it up when it comes out.

    (I actually like the lightsaber combos more than the force use but it is highly amusing seeing stormtroopers grab on to each other and anything else they can as they go flying through the air).

    --
    Well, Bart, your uncle Arthur used to have a saying: "Shoot 'em all and let God sort 'em out."
  44. How about playing with what you've got first? by pandrijeczko · · Score: 1

    I don't get all this immense overhype over new games or ceaseless whining because a game comes out on a console first or doesn't come out on the PC at all.

    Don't you people find gaming fun in maybe digging out some old titles and downloading a few new levels to play? Or maybe grabbing an update engine for, say, Duke Nukem 3D, Quake or Doom? Or even grabbing 15 minutes online in a freebie deathmatch with "World Of Padman" or "Warsow"?

    I don't get this online games thingie anyway. I play a lot of games and maybe it's an attention span thing but I *really* don't want to devote a fair proportion of my life to just *one* game like WoW or this new Star Wars game. I don't mind taking my time finishing a game like HL2 because I've no reason to rush and I'm going to look pretty stupid as a fat middle-aged bloke going into my office and bragging to my workmates about how I'm so amazing for "getting past the tripods" before they did.

    And then there's the endless copy-protection and DRM shit to contend with - Jesus, people! The idea is *very simple* - you pay some money in your local game store and they let you have a game that you can take home, install, play with and maybe add a mod or two to it so that it entertains you; not spend half your life making phones calls for new registration keys because you've installed it more than three times or tapping in anti-EA hate mail on Amazon because you're naive enough to buy a game before doing some investigation first...

    It's very simple - a lot of games companies treat us like shit because far too many gamers have let them get away with it for far too long.

    Please GROW SOME BACKBONES, people!

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    1. Re:How about playing with what you've got first? by WDot · · Score: 1

      I don't get all this immense overhype over new games or ceaseless whining because a game comes out on a console first or doesn't come out on the PC at all.

      PC ports can come out months or a year after the console release, meaning most people who really wanted to play the game have already done so. The PC ports are also generally shoddy. The idea is "can we make this 360 program compile and run on a Windows machine" and they leave it at that.

      Don't you people find gaming fun in maybe digging out some old titles and downloading a few new levels to play?

      Yes I do, and so do many. However, I'm not going to say, "to hell with all gaming after 1995" just because my friends and I have fun with a few retro games at our LANs.

      I don't get this online games thingie anyway. I play a lot of games and maybe it's an attention span thing but I *really* don't want to devote a fair proportion of my life to just *one* game like WoW or this new Star Wars game.

      This Star Wars game isn't an MMO like World of Warcraft, so I don't quite know what you mean by this. There's a difference between paying 15 dollars a month to continue to play one game (WoW) and simply riding the hype train leading up to a game's release (this game). Riding the hype train can lead to cynicism due to broken promises, but it's fun while it lasts. Sometimes it's more fun than the actual game.

      I don't mind taking my time finishing a game like HL2 because I've no reason to rush and I'm going to look pretty stupid as a fat middle-aged bloke going into my office and bragging to my workmates about how I'm so amazing for "getting past the tripods" before they did.

      Yeah, you would. Good thing most gamers don't do that.

      And then there's the endless copy-protection and DRM shit to contend with

      I wouldn't know, I immediately install a crack for every game I buy after I buy it. They aren't hard to find. (=

      It's very simple - a lot of games companies treat us like shit because far too many gamers have let them get away with it for far too long.

      That's true, but I'm not sure what that has to do with this particular story.

      Perhaps you should buy a couple of recently hyped games and see what the fuss is all about before passing judgement on this hobby and everyone who has it. Who knows, they might be more fun than you originally thought. (=

    2. Re:How about playing with what you've got first? by pandrijeczko · · Score: 1

      Yes I do, and so do many. However, I'm not going to say, "to hell with all gaming after 1995" just because my friends and I have fun with a few retro games at our LANs.

      And I agree with you and my attitude is entirely the same. But I don't care what the game title is or how "big" it is - if it sounds like it comes with a lot of DRM and protection baggage, or is badly bugged on release, then I won't buy it. I've plenty of other stuff to go play while I'm waiting for something new to come out.

      Perhaps you should buy a couple of recently hyped games and see what the fuss is all about before passing judgement on this hobby and everyone who has it. Who knows, they might be more fun than you originally thought. (=

      With all respect, I am an avid gamer, albeit an older one, and have every right to "pass judgement" on a hobby that occupies a lot of my time - especially when I buy all the games I play, rather than just copying them.

      You seem to have missed my point entirely - namely that if a games company isn't doing what you want then let them know about it and don't part with good money for inferior products.

      --
      Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
    3. Re:How about playing with what you've got first? by WDot · · Score: 1

      My post may need to have been more precisely worded, but the reason I wrote the post was that you have written opinions on MMO's, classic gaming, and DRM when all this article is about is a single-player, new, console-only title. There is no subscription, because it's singleplayer. Interest in classic games is irrelevant because it doesn't pertain to the story. There is no SecuROM on a console game, because you can only run it on a console anyway. It appeared that you were damning all of modern gaming in a simple topic hyping up one particular 360 game.

  45. Metaclorians Unleashed!!! by bugeaterr · · Score: 1

    George Lucas himself provided input on the project.

    So...halfway through the game you must complete a 10 hour pod race,
    after which you learn The Force is actually powered by Thetans or something.

  46. Try before buy. by TechwoIf · · Score: 1

    Everyone is downloading it for two reasons. To check out what all the hubla is about. To see if its worth the $50+ dollars or a waste of it.

  47. Re:fp by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it's 4PM and im naked, lol

    Yeah, I heard that your boss would prefer that you waited until work was finished though.

  48. A nonbiased minireview by Satanboy · · Score: 1

    I will preface this by stating I do like star wars, but I'm not a fanatic.

    I have to say that I downloaded this game kind of worried it was going to be a let down. It wasn't.
    The pacing is good, the graphics are amazing, the controls feel natural, and the story is pretty interesting.

    There are a lot of people bashing the gameplay but I haven't heard a real good description for those of you that maybe don't have a 360 or ps3 or haven't had a chance to try the demo.

    So here is the gameplay in a nutshell:

    Take God of War, mix in a little Devil May Cry, add a dash of Jedi Knight 2 and you've got it.

    I have completed the demo on all three hardness settings, the Sith Lord setting is rather tough, but once you get used to the controls it is possible and it makes the game a whole lot more fun. You begin to see why your force powers are useful at this difficulty level, you NEED to use the force to be able to complete the missions, if you attempt to just force push guys and slash them, they will cut you down with their laser guns. At Sith Lord level, the games depth becomes apparent, the choices and tricks you use determine your fate. Here's an example; on one part of the level tie fighters fly past you quickly and blast you as you are trying to fight the men on the ground. Using the force, you can actually bend beams out into the area the fighters are flying which causes them to crash. I did manage to get past this part without doing this, however using the technique maximized my health and allowed me to get through the level much easier. It's this environmental manipulation that has taken the 3rd person fighting game to a whole new level.

    This game really does deliver, don't listen to the naysayers, try it for yourselves.

  49. Depends on the Universe by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

    Bringing down a whole star destroyer?

    Depends on the Universe. If it's the Kasdan/Brackett Universe of ESB, it's not a problem - that Force is infinite, only the degree to which the Jedi is one with the Force is a factor. If it's the Lucas Universe of the prequels, then, yeah, those Jedi are just a bunch of parlor magicians with viruses in them.

    n.b. the relative age of Ben Kenobi is further proof of different universes between the trilogies.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)